The Sun Dance is a ritual ceremony observed by the Plains Indians of the regions of modern Canada and the United States to awaken the earth, renew the community, give thanks for the sun, and petition or give thanks for favors from the Great Spirit. The ceremony's focus is on gratitude and self-sacrifice for the greater good.
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Definition
Timeline
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1881 - 1883Sun Dance is outlawed in the United States.
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1882Sun Dance is outlawed in Canada.
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c. 1934 - c. 1958Laws in Canada and the United States outlawing the Sun Dance are repealed; observance of the Sun Dance is again legal.
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1978American Indian Religious Freedom Act passed in the United States granting Native Americans the right to practice their religion, including the Sun Dance.